Ferromanganese nodules of freshwater reservoirs of Ol’khon Island (Baikal) and the Kulunda Plain (West Siberia)

Morphology and mineralogical and geochemical compositions of freshwater ferromanganese nodules of Ol’khon Island (Sasa Formation) and Kulunda Plain (Lake Porozhnee) were studied. The study has shown rhythmic structures of the nodules, formed by macro- and microlayers with mineralized microflora. The layers are composed of either crystalline Mn mineral phases and finely dispersed Fe phases (Lake Porozhnee) or, on the contrary, crystalline goethite and X-ray amorphous Mn phases (Ol’khon Island). Separation of Mn and Fe mineral phases in the nodules proceeded during their formation and diagenesis. The freshwater nodules show both high (Lake Porozhnee) and low (Ol’khon Island) Mn/Fe ratios. The predominance of Fe phase in the Ol’khon nodules accounts for their high contents of REE, including Ce. The Porozhnee nodules grew, most likely, more rapidly, which is reflected in their low REE contents and Ce anomaly. The examined chemical and mineral compositions, textures, and structures of the nodules testify to the low-temperature hydrothermal source of their ore substance.     

Structural evolution history of the Red Sea Rift

The Red Sea Rift has been an object of comprehensive studies by several generations of geologists and geophysicists. Many publications and open-file reports provide insights into the geological history of this rift. Paleogene and Cretaceous rocks, which are considered to be prerift, are locally exposed at the margins of the Red Sea Rift. At the same time, some evidence indicates that at least some of these rocks are related to the early stage of the evolution of the Red Sea Rift. The available geological data suggest that the Red Sea region started its active evolution in the Cretaceous. As follows from lithostratigraphic data, the Cretaceous-Paleogene trough that predated the Oligocene-Quaternary rift covered this region completely or partially. The pre-Oligocene magmatism and geological evidence show that the Cretaceous-Paleogene trough was of the rift type. The Cretaceous-Eocene and Oligocene-Quaternary phases of rifting were separated by an epoch of uplifting and denudation documented by the erosion surface and unconformity.     

Crustal growth stages in the Songino block of the early caledonian superterrane in Central Asia: II. Geochemical and Nd-isotope data

Geochemical and Nd isotope data are reported for Late Riphean metamorphic complexes and granitoids of the Bayannur zone of the Songino block in the Early Caledonian superterrane of Central Asia. Geological, geochronolgical, geochemical, and isotope data were integrated to discuss rock sources and main mechanisms responsible for the formation and evolution of the Late Riphean continental crust. It was established that lithotectonic complexes of the Bayannur zone were formed on a convergent plate during Late Proterozoic tectonogenesis (around 1.3–0.78 Ga). This period primarily produced a juvenile crust represented by paleooceanic (N- and E-MORB types) and island arc basalts. An interval of 800–880 Ma was marked by the formation of rocks of the Bayannur complex and metaterrigenous sequence (accretionary wedge) of the Kholbonur complex, and the emplacement of quartz diorites and granodiorites of the Gashunnur pluton due to erosion and melting of both Late Riphean juvenile sources and ancient possibly Early Precambrian crustal material in a setting of ensialic island arc. At the final stage of the Late Riphean evolution of the Bayannur zone, postkinematic granitoids of the Bayannur pluton, and gabbrodiorites and anorthosites of the Ontsula pluton were derived from mantle juvenile and crustal sources in a within-plate setting. In terms of isotope characteristics, the crystalline complexes of the Bayannur zone are comparable with the Japan-type modern island arc systems. A synthesis of geological, geochronological, and isotope-geochemical data indicates a much wider distribution of the Late Riphean juvenile crust-forming processes than considered previously and remobilization of continental crust in the eastern segment of the Central Asian Fold Belt. The Vendian-Paleozoic stage in the evolution of this segment was characterized by an intense growth of juvenile crust, while magmatism during Late Riphean stage was determined by mixing of Late Riphean juvenile and ancient Early Precambrian sources.     

Noble metal mineralization in carbonaceous rocks: A synthesis of data on the Russian Far East

The relationship between noble metal mineralization and carbonaceous rocks (black shales and brown coals) is considered. We have confirmed the previous conclusions of multistage syn- and epimetamorphic formation of gold-bearing deposits in black shales and syn- and epigenetic accumulation of noble metals in brown coals. The gold and PGE in the brown coals of the Verkhnii Amur region and Primorye were presumably derived by disintegration of adjacent ore sources in the Cenozoic. Addition studies and sampling are required at the coal and graphite objects of the Russian Far East to solve this problem.     

Seismotectonic destruction of the Earth’s crust in the zone of interaction of the northeastern side of the Baikal rift and the Aldan-Stanovoy block

The paper presents the modern structural-tectonic pattern and a tectonodynamic model of the zone of interaction of the most seismically active northeastern side of the Baikal rift zone (BRZ) and the conjugate system of seismogenic structures of the Aldan-Stanovoy block, where disastrous events with M ≥ 6.0 have been reported. Regularities in the structural formation of active faults and their kinematics are discussed. The faults form block structures accumulating significant tectonic strain. Motions between large tectonic blocks cause sudden release of the strain, which results in catastrophic events (M ≥ 6.0) with focal mechanisms of definite kinematic type.     

Analysis of 3D Doppler Tomography of the X-ray Binary System Cygnus X-1 from Spectral Observations in 2007 in the HeII λ 4686 Å Line

This is the second paper in a series dedicated to studies of the X-ray binary Cyg X-1 in the HeII λ 4686 Å line using 3D Doppler tomography. A detailed analysis of the tomogram constructed has made it possible for the first time to obtain information about the motions of gaseous flows including all three velocity components. The observations were obtained in June 2007 at the Terskol Branch of the Institute of Astronomy (Russia) and the National Astronomical Observatory of Mexico. The correctness of the tomographic results and their discussion is analyzed. The results are compared with a 2D Doppler tomogram reconstruction. Model-atmosphere computations of HeII λ 4686 Å line profiles are used to estimate the influence of absorption features of the Osupergiant on the emission structure in the tomogram. The correctness of the 3D solutions is confirmed by the good agreement between the original sequence of spectral data and a control data set computed using the constructed 3D Doppler tomogram. Tomograms constructed using the data of each of the two observatories are compared. The results of the reconstruction for inclinations of the system of 40° and 45° essentially coincide. The maximum absorption (corresponding to the O supergiant) and emission structural features in the 3D tomogram are located in its central (V _x , V _y ) section, where the velocity component perpendicular to the orbital plane V _z is zero. The emission is generated mainly in the outer part of the accretion structure, close to the supergiant. A gaseous stream from the Lagrangian point L1 with its motion close to the orbital plane can be distinguished. Its maximum velocity reaches 800 km/s. The identification of an emission structure with V _z ~ 300 km/s and with V _x , V _y in the velocity interval corresponding to the donor star was unexpected. Its presence may indicate, for example, an outflow of matter from a magnetic pole of the supergiant.     

论冰川颤痕

颤痕是冰川作用地区由冰川携带岩屑做周期性或间歇性运动在冰床基岩和冰碛石表面形成的新月形或弧形破裂形态,特征尺度一般不大于1 m。其主要形成机制类似Riedel构造模式中的（R）剪切破裂和（T）拉张破裂,且遵循脆性破裂原理。根据国内外文献报道和野外考察,从术语学角度将冰川颤痕分为狭义和广义两种。广义冰川颤痕,包括曲锥形擦口（狭义颤痕）、半月形裂口、新月形凿口、新月形裂纹和新月形断口5种。测量统计结果显示,23组新月形断口的排列间距,KS和JB检验均符合正态和伽玛分布（置信度95%）,与岩石节理（破裂）的间距特征一致;25组新月形凿口和35组新月形裂纹的排列间距,KS检验符合正态分布和伽玛分布,JB检验不符合正态分布（置信度95%）。证明颤痕在空间分布上大体保持相等的破裂间距,基本符合饱和模式理论。颤痕的定向性、成组特征具有明确的环境意义,与擦痕、擦面的地貌组合是重要的冰川遗迹判别标志。缺少冰蚀地貌组合的孤立“颤痕”,不具有指示冰川作用的价值。近年报道的山东鲁山没有“颤痕”等冰川遗迹。